Centurion Taulupe Faletau’s test career in numbers

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau added his name to the list of test centurions during the recently completed Autumn Nations Series.

Faletau has now represented his country 95 times while his involvement on three British and Irish Lions tours earns him his place among the 88 male and female players who have achieved the feat to date.

He is the 11th Wales player to become a test centurion and will hope to add to his tally of caps when the men’s Six Nations 2023 gets underway next year.

In recognition of Faletau’s milestone, we look at the numbers behind his stellar international career to date.

1 – Faletau has captained Wales on one occasion, against Italy on 11 March, 2018. He led his country to a 38-14 victory in the men’s Six Nations at the Principality Stadium.

1 – Faletau has only received one yellow card in his test career to date. He was sent to the sin-bin in the 72nd minute of Wales’ 32-30 Six Nations defeat to France in March, 2021.

2 – only two of his test appearances have ended in a draw. A 16-16 stalemate for Wales against Ireland in Dublin at the beginning of the 2016 Six Nations and the 15-15 draw in the final match of the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand the following year.

2 – the only country Faletau has scored more than one try against is Argentina. He has crossed the whitewash twice in three appearances against Los Pumas.

10 – Faletau has ended on the winning team 10 times in 11 tests against Italy, more than any other nation. His sole try in the fixture came in a 48-7 win in Rome during the 2021 Six Nations.

11 – tries the number eight has scored in his test career to date (10 for Wales and one for the Lions). His first international try came during a 17-16 pool stage defeat to South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2011.

14 – tests Faletau has played against England, more than any other nation. He has scored one try in those matches, of which Wales have won five and lost nine.

20 – years and 267 days, Faletau’s age when he made his test debut against England on 6 August, 2011. Wales lost the RWC 2011 warm-up match 23-19 at Twickenham.

45 – test victories in Faletau’s 95 appearances for Wales. 49 of those matches have ended in defeat, with the other a draw.

90 – of Faletau’s test appearances to date have come from the start.